(NC) -- Oral hygiene is an important part of overall health – and now, in addition to brushing and flossing there is one more vital task to add to our daily routine: it's equally important to keep our sweet tooth in check.

It's no secret that sugar is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to cavities and tooth decay, Statistics Canada reports that Canadians are getting over 20% of their daily calories from sugar. Consuming too much sugar is harmful to people of all ages, but the elderly are at particularly high risk when it comes to tooth decay.

“As we age, our mouths often produce less saliva,” explains West Vancouver dentist Dr. Geoff Gillespie. “This, coupled with the side effects of many common medications, often leads to extreme dry mouth which seniors typically alleviate by sucking on candy or mints. Unfortunately, this temporary fix accelerates tooth decay.”

Fortunately, according to Dr. Gillespie, there are products on the market that not only prevent these problems from getting worse, they actually reverse some of the effects.

“Candy and gum sweetened with a natural sweetener called xylitol instead of sugar are proven to help increase saliva production,” he points out. “Xylitol also re-mineralizes tooth enamel and inhibits plaque and cavities up to 80%. This is the first natural sweetener I like because not only does it prevent cavities, it also creates a healthy, alkaline environment in the mouth.”

In addition, here are some tips to avoid consuming too much added sugar:

Snack on fruits and vegetables. While fruit does contain some natural sugar, it's the refined and added sugars in candy and processed foods that really wreak havoc on our dental health. Snacking on fruit is a great option, just avoid fruit juices, especially for little kids.

Eat candy and gum sweetened without sugar. For serious sweet cravings, we can be smart about our snacks. For example, the Xyla brand of xylitol offers a wide range of candies and other sweet snacks, without any of the side effects of the real thing. And it's a completely natural product that our bodies make already.

Moderation. Hidden sugars are everywhere and it's sometimes hard to avoid them completely. Be sure to keep serving sizes low and always brush and floss after sugar is consumed.

We can all benefit from maintaining good oral health. Regular dental check-ups combined with smart eating can keep our mouths healthy for a lifetime.